Key retainer



NOV. 16, 1954 J NOLAN 2,694,244

KEY RETAINER Filed Aug. 26, 1953 32 [W W P I INVENTOR. NICHOLAS J. NOLAN BY ATTORNEY United StatesPatent O KEY RETAINER Nicholas J. Nolan, Detroit, Mich.

Application August 26, 1953, Serial No. 376,603

4 Claims. (Cl. 24-230 My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a key retainer. It is an object of the present invention to provide a key retainer having an attachment member at both ends thereof, to each of which a key ring or chain may be attached, one of the ends being detachable from the main body so that a part of the keys may be removed from the retainer at will.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a key retainer of this class, comprising a housing into which one of the retaining members may be slipped and releasably locked in position on the housing.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a key retainer of this class having a housing provided with an actuating spring positioned in a compartment, the wall of which will form one of the guide walls of a guide passage into which a key retainer may be inserted. Other objects will appear hereinafter.

It is recognized that various modifications and changes may be made in the detail of the structure illustrated without departing from the invention, and it is to be understood that the disclosure herein is but the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Forming a part of this application are drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the invention showing one of the retainers removed from the housing.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the housing with one of the side walls removed.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the detachable retainer.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the housing with the upper wall removed and positioned in spaced relation thereto.

As shown in the drawings, the invention comprises a housing 7, having side walls 8 and 9 and end walls 10 and 11, the end walls 10 and 11 projecting upwardly beyond the side walls 8 and 9 the thickness of a cover 12 which is adapted to rest upon the side walls 8 and 9 and terminate with its upper face flush with the faces of the end walls 10 and 11.

Projecting inwardly of the housing is a partition 13 spaced from a partition 14. This partition 14 forms with the side wall 8 a compartment 15. Formed in the end wall 10 is an opening 16.

Secured to the housing 9 and projecting outwardly from one end thereof is a lug 17 having an opening 18 formed therein to provide a key retainer, a key chain or ring being projectable through the opening 18.

A key retainer 19 which constitutes an elongated object having an opening 20 formed at one end thereof is adapted for insertion between the partitions 13 and 14. Formed at opposite sides of this retainer 19 are the recesses 21 and 22.

Rockable on a stud 23 which projects upwardly from the bottom of the housing is a ratchet member 24, a portion of which projects outwardly through the opening 25 formed in the side wall 9. Extending outwardly from this body 24 is an arm 26, hearing against which is one end of a coil spring 27 which is positioned in the compartment 15. Projecting from the body 24 is a dog 28, having a nose 29, and provided with a heel 30 which underlies the end of the partition 13. This nose 29 is provided with the inclined end face 31. The construction is such that as the retainer 19 is slid inwardly of the housing through the opening 16, it will be guided in these movements by the partitions 13 and 14, against which the opposite sides of the retainer 19 engage. The inner end face 32 of this retainer is formed curvilinear,

so that as the retainer 19 is inserted inwardly of the housing, the curvilinear face 32 will engage the inclined face 31 of the nose 29 and serve to rock the arm 28 downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 2. This downward rocking will be against the compression of the spring 27, and as soon as the nose 29 registers with either of the notches 21 or 22, the nose will snap into these notches and serve to latch the retainer 19 in position in the housing. 1

The invention is particularly adapted for use as a retainer for the keys of an automobile. Frequently one is required to park an automobile in a parking lot and leave the ignition keys in the vehicle. Often one does not want to have others have access to the trunk of the vehicle, and if the ignition key and the trunk key are on the same retainer, this cannot be avoided. By having the ignition key mounted on the lug 17 and the other keys on the retainer 19, one may rock the body 24 against the compression of the spring 26 and remove the retainer 19, thus leaving the ignition key in the vehicle.

By having the notches 21 and 22 at opposite sides of the body 19, and by having the guide partitions 13 and 14, the retainer 19 may be easily and quickly thrust into the housing with a minimum of inconvenience. When the retainer 19 is mounted in position on the housing 7, both sets of keys are consequently secured by a common retainer. By having the opening 16 of a size to conform to the shape of the body 19 so as to allow a snug fit, a person, even in the dark, may easily and quickly place the body 19 in position in the housing.

What I claim is:

1. A key retainer of the class described, comprising: a housing having a pair of spaced apart partitions formed therein, one of said partitions being shorter than the other, and each of said partitions being spaced apart from an adjoining side wall of the housing, one of said partitions forming with a side wall of the housing a compartment; a spring positioned in said compartment and engaging at one end of the bottom of said compartment; a body in said housing and rockably mounted therein and projecting at one end through an opening in a wall of said housing; an arm on said body engaging the opposite end of said spring; a dog projecting outwardly from said body; a heel on said dog underlying the shorter partition and engageable therewith upon rocking of said body in one direction in response to the pressure of said spring; a nose carried by said dog and projectable into the space between said partitions; and an elongated key retainer insertable through an opening formed is an end wall of said housing and slideable between said partitions and having a notch formed in its side for reception of said nose upon registration therewith.

2. A key retainer of the class described, comprising: a housing having a pair of spaced apart partitions formed therein, one of said partitions being shorter than the other, and each of said partitions being spaced apart from an adjoining side wall of the housing, one of said partitions forming with a side wall of the housing a compartment; a spring positioned in said compartment and engaging at one end the bottom of said compartment; a body in said housing and rockably mounted therein and projecting at one end through an opening in a wall of said housing; an arm on said body engaging the opposite end of said spring; a dog projecting outwardly from said body; a heel on said dog underlying the shorter partition and engageable therewith upon rocking of said body in one direction in response to the pressure of said spring; a nose carried by said dog and projectable into the space between said partitions; and an elongated key retainer insertable through an opening formed in an end wall of said housing and slideable between said partitions and having a notch formed in its side for reception of said nose upon registration therewith, the inner end of said retainer having a curvilinear surface for engaging said nose and rocking the same downwardly out of the space between said partitions for passage of said retainer therethrough until a notch in said retainer registers with said nose.

3. A key retainer of the class described, comprising: a housing having a pair of spaced apart partitions formed partment; a spring positioned in said compartment and engaging at one end the bottom of said compartment; a body in said housing and rockably mounted therein and projecting at one end through an opening in a wall of saidhousing; an arm on said body engaging the opposite end of said spring; a dog projecting outwardly from said body; a heel on said dog underlying the shorter partition and engageable therewith upon rocking of said body in one direction in response to the pressure of said spring; a nose carried by said dog and projectable into the space between said partitions; and'an elongated key retainer insertable through an opening formed 'in an end Wall of said housing and slidealztle between said partitions and having'a notch formed in its side for reception of said nose upon-registration therewith, the inner end of said retainer having a curvilinear surface for engaging said nose and rocking the same downwardly out of thespace between said partitions for'passage of said retainer therethrough until said notch in said retainer registers with said nose,ther'e being a notch formed in each of the opposite-sides of said retainer and said retainer having an opening formed in its outer end for reception of a key holder.

4. A key retainer of the class described, comprising: a housing having a pair of spaced apart partitions formed 4 partment; a spring positioned in said compartment and engaging at one end the 'bottom'ofsaid' compartment; 21 body in said housing and rockably mounted therein and projecting at one end through an opening in a wall of said housing; an arm on said body engaging the opposite end of said spring; a dog projecting outwardly from said body; a heel on said dog underlying the shorter partition and engageable therewith upon rocking of said body in one direction in response to the pressure of said spring; a nose carried by said dog and projectable into the space between said partitions; an elongated key retainer insertable through an opening formed in an end wall ofsaid housing and slideable betweensa-id partitions and having a notch formed in its side for reception of said nose upon registration therewith," the inner end of said retainer having a curvilinear surface for engaging said nose and rocking the same downwardly out of the space between said partitions for passage of said retainer therethrough untii said notch in said-retainer registers therein, one of said partitions being shorter than the 30 other, and each of said partitions being spaced apart from an adjoining side wall of the housing, one of said partitions forming with a side wall of thehousing a comwith said nose; there being a notch formed' ineach of the opposite sides of said retainer and said retainer having an opening formed in its outer end for reception of a key holder; and a lug projecting outwardly from one end of said housing and having an opening formed therein for reception of a key holder. 1

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 256,087 Wiesenmeyer Apr. 4, 1882 885,267 Martel- Apr. 21, 1908 2,465,328 Modrey Mar. 22, 1949 

